"It's really awesome. There are a lot of fun activities, soccer, basketball, and track," the eighth grader said. "You get to make friends here."

Without this program, Dylan might not be part of a soccer team.

Now area educators, as well as federal education officials, hope to expand these opportunities.

Unified Sports creates competitive divisions pairing typical kids and those with disabilities based on skills. Training divisions range from a skill-learning focus to high level competition.

Broadview eighth-grader Daniel Collinge, who works as a partner, said he wanted to help.

"I just feel good about myself, doing this. I also like doing it, and the kids deserve it," he said. "When they are successful, their faces just light up."

The Danbury middle school Unified program was founded 13 years ago by counselor Christine Miller. Its 80 students now make up the largest program in the state.

Connecticut leads the way nationally with Unified programs, but many eduators say there's much room to grow.

Last January the federal government sent a letter to all states, urging them to expand these programs, which some believe soon will be mandatory.

Danbury school officials not only want to expand their Unified offerings at the high school, but also want to lead efforts to expand Unified interscholastic programs.

"We have three or four school districts who are interested," Danbury schools Athletic Director Chip Salvestrini said this week. "Each school is going to look at their offerings and try to improve them."

Brookfield and Monroe are looking into adding programs; New Milford and New Fairfield are starting programs this year.

In Danbury, Salvestrini hopes to fund Miller's program and add cheerleading to the basketball team that makes up the high school's Unified venture.

"We need, as a district, to be proactive," Salvestrini said. "I'm not looking to add a lot more teams, but to strengthen the teams and make sure they have uniforms and don't have to fundraise."

Miller said her program is semi-organized with tutors, special education teachers and coaches who volunteer to help. She said there are more students than needed who volunteer to be partners.

"The whole idea is to bring children of all abilities together to play," Miller said. "It ranges from some kids who need to hold your hand as they run down the field, to those who have a high level of play, but socially it's difficult for them to be part of a team."

For now she has to bring her students to Hartford, Waterbury and other cities for competitions, but she would like to play closer to home. She's glad Danbury is working to expand area programs.

"I absolutely support it. If I didn't do it, it wouldn't have happened. It's so important for the kids," Miller said. "I think sports should be accessible to everyone."

Sports teach social skills, Miller said, which she teaches in school.

"I can't teach social skills as well as when they are out doing something they love to do," Miller said.

Looking to grow more

Connecticut has more than 3,500 athletes and partners in about 170 elementary, middle and high schools across the state.

"It's a 50-percent growth in the past five years with 85 new schools," said Lou Pear, director of Unified Sports for Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference.

Now, 90 out of 150 state high schools have a Unified program and there are 40 tournaments a year. The goal is for the Unified program to mirror the scholar athlete program the CIAC has.

Pear said Unified programs have been slow to grow nationally, though a new federal grant is bringing more states on board.

In 1972, when the federal Special Education law was passed, it focused on ensuring that students with special needs have equal and appropriate academic opportunities.

In 1990, the federal government mandated that schools include these students in regular classrooms as much as possible.

At this time, Pear said, it became clear that students should not just be included in the classroom, but in extra curricular activities as well.

In 1992, as part of an effort to reach school-aged athletes, Connecticut Special Olympics partnered with the CIAC.

Connecticut, Rhode Island, Arizona, Maryland and Indiana are the only states where Special Olympics and state interscholastic athletic associations work together.

"This (sports) is highly recommended now, but I predict it will become mandated in the near future," Pear said.

Broadview eighth-grader Samantha Mortar has been a partner since sixth grade.

"It's the best experience. All the kids are so adorable to be with," she said. "They get friendship and happiness. They are so happy when they get a goal."

Seventh-grader Mirna Negron, 13, works as a partner and her sister is an athlete.

"When I came the first day, it really inspired me. I saw that not only my sister had a problem, but a lot of others have problems and need help," Negron said. "It's like a new world for them. It lights up their faces. I like to see them smile."

Coach and special education teacher Bill Herzog and his son work in the program.

"I honestly think our typical kids get more out of this than the special education students," he said. "It builds a sense of empathy and community and understanding. I think we're changing lives."